34 – Sage
“Intruders, Intruders, surrender or you will face the consequences of your trespassing.” the voice kept saying as if it was a record on repeat.
Levi, noticing the sound coming from above, looked up only to see colorful birds circling above them and shouting, at a closer look their forms became more visible, they appeared to be parrots?
Levi shot a questioning look at his companion hoping for an answer but there wasn't any luck, all he could see was confusion on his face as much as him.
“You're trespassing on the Territory of lord sage, the one and only of his kind, the merciful, the mightiest of us all, the greatest bird to ever exist, the breaker of mountains, and the drainer of seas…..”
Levi didn't know whether to laugh or cry as he listened to the birds singing praise after praise to their so-called “Sage”, Acnologia just sat there and looked up not seeing them as a threat at all and deciding not to do anything, apparently his stomach was full from all the berries they ate along the way or else he would have definitely bounced on them.
And so they just stood there not knowing what to do, the birds kept singing praise after praise to their lord, only deciding after ten minutes that it was enough before a yellow parrot flew down to them and landed looking them up and down before saying, “As you have behaved yourselves and listen to the glorious name of our lord you're pardoned for you initial mistake, but you will follow me to meet our lord so that he can decide what to do with you.” said the yellow parrot with the most arrogant tone of voice that Levi had ever heard.
He had thought that nothing could annoy him more than Acnologia had done when he was following him, apparently he was wrong.
Looking at Acnologia he saw that the dragon was giving him a look that said “Want me to take care of it.”, he was even licking his lips while staring at the clueless birds who were completely ignoring him, shaking his head at him Levi turned towards the parrot before saying, “Of course, lead us to your lord please.” said Levi smiling.
Hearing him the yellow parrot seemed pleased with his answer before replying, “Good good at least you have a good head over your shoulders to appreciate our Lord's glory, now follow me.”
Levi was about to counter that he didn't say anything about their lord that might suggest that before giving up and following the bird, he couldn't miss this chance, these birds were the second intelligent life form he encountered since he was stranded here the first one being Acnologia who couldn't even speak, and they might help him find his way back so he couldn't miss this opportunity.
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After a short five minutes, the yellow bird landed on a lake that was hidden between mountains, almost impossible to reach for anyone that couldn't fly, Acnologia landed right after him in his big form that was as big as an adult human with Levi on his back, Levi had thought that the dragon will have an issue with him riding him due to dragon pride or something of that sort but it seemed that he was mistaken.
One thing that shocked Levi however was that none of the parrots reacted to Acnologia suddenly multiplying in size, they seemed to have no instinct of self-preservation whatsoever, Levi had to wonder how they could survive until now.
‘Although a place like this certainly helped.’ thought Levi as he observed his surroundings, there were small wooden and stone houses all around with small baby parrots and other kinds of parrots going about their business, a giant stone house that was more fit to be called a castle was erected at the far end of the lake, levi guessed that that was the place their so-called lord was staying.
‘How did they build all of this?’ thought Levi as he observed the wooden and rock structures, he couldn't for the life of him figure out how they had built all of this with their small forms and only relying on their wings and legs, there were even some iron tools laying around.
“Follow me.” said the yellow bird as he started walking towards the big wooden house with Levi and Acnologia following him.
Before long they stood at the center of a big hall with black and gray colored parrot guards on both sides standing like trained soldiers and a majestic throne in front of him, sitting on it was a seven-colored parrot, clearly different from the guards and all the others he encountered on his way here. On both sides of this seven-colored parrot were what appeared to be female parrots of all colors snuggling close to him and massaging him.
‘Don't tell me that he's the lord just because he has seven colors.’ thought Levi, starting to regret coming here but what was done was done he could only make the best of his situation, the whole setting felt weird and awkward to Levi though and he couldn't wait to get this over with.
“You stand before his supreme and ultimate majesty, introduce yourself.” shouted the yellow parrot.
Deciding to just humor them for now to get as much information as he could Levi spoke, “My name is Levi I am a…..traveler, and this here is my friend Acnologia, he isn't a fan of talking.” said Levi introducing them, making Acnologia shoot him a look.
The sage seemed to finally pay him some attention as he spoke for the first time, “Oh? And where are you from? traveler.”
Levi took a deep breath as he started to explain everything from getting pulled into the portal to not being able to find a way back home, if he wanted to find information and a way back to the physical world he had to be truthful, “...that's why I am lost on what to do or where to go, if you could be of any help I will never forget it.”
“Hmmm, that certainly is an interesting story.” said the sage narrowing his eyes, “There are only a few elements that don't fit into place in it, one of which is that you don't seem to be a physical world inhabitant, they can't survive in the spirit world as long the two worlds are separated from each other and if you really were from the physical world, there shouldn't be a way for you to have crossed over here.”
“I would like to keep how me being able to survive here in the spirit world a secret if you don't mind.” said Levi, there was no way that he was going to reveal the existence of the system, “As for how I crossed to this world I myself don't know that, a wormhole just opened up and swallow me and I ended up here.” said Levi suddenly feeling a little depressed, he really had shity luck.
“Well to each their own secrets I don't care anyhow.” said the sage raising his wing dismissively, “But one thing I know is that few are powerful enough that they can shift you here with the worlds separated from each other, you're in luck though, in just a few short decades the harmonic convergence will happen and the passage to the physical world will be open and you can get back home.“ said the parrot sage with a neutral tone of voice as if a few decades were nothing.
Levi’s expression turned sour, he knew of one of those few powerful beings the sage mentioned, vaatu! Was he the one who had pulled him in here? He would have to look into it more later.
And a few decades? He already knew about that from the show but he couldn't wait that long, by then he would have missed all of the major events, and his mother would be….., he didn't dare think about it any longer.
‘Was this the world’s way of correcting itself due to my existence?’ thought Levi, ‘A way to stop me from changing the timeline?.’ those questions ran through his mind one after another but as always he didn't know the answer to that.
“I appreciate your advice, great sage but I can't wait that long, is there another way?.” asked Levi, not having much hope but the sage actually replied.
“Of course, there is always a way, if you're strong enough you can just forcefully rip the fabric of reality in the spirit world and directly step into the physical world.” said the sage as if it were the most normal thing in the world making Levi’s eye twitch, “In the meantime, you can stay here if you want we don't get a lot of company around these parts.”
Levi was at a loss after hearing the sage’s reply for a while before he spoke, “Thanks for your help….wise sage.” said Levi struggling to say the last part feeling weird praising a parrot, “We would appreciate a place to stay for a while before heading our way.”
Nodding as if he had expected that answer the sage said, “Good, guards prepare a feast for our guests.” he said as the entire place came to life with most of the guards leaving, probably to prepare said feast, the parrot sage on the other hand part brought his wings forward and clapped them.
Levi and Acnologia immediately felt themselves losing control of their bodies as they were forcefully moved to the side not being able to resist at all before soft chairs adorned with pristine white covers appeared behind them as they dropped on them in a sitting position, a lone, long dining table adorned with gold appeared at the center after that.
Looking at each other, Acnologia and Levi were sweating bullets right now, ‘Thankfully we haven't provoked them before.’ was what they both thought as they looked at each other, thankfully this strange sage didn't appear to be hostile.
The sage had a smug look on his face as he looked at them which they noticed, apparently this was a display of power for both of them to behave, and it worked! Levi no longer questioned how the parrots could still survive until now. He also reminded himself to stop judging by appearances from now on it could get him into a lot of trouble otherwise.
Before long the table was adorned with all kinds of fruits, foods and drinks, some that neither Levi nor the dragon had ever seen, Levi had been afraid that the parrots idea of food was worms and insects thankfully he was wrong, looking at Acnologia he could see literal drool falling out of the dragon's mouth as he devoured piece after piece of meat, making the parrots that were bringing them food work over time.
Levi for his part only tasted some things here and there just getting a taste, being able to survive without food had its perks after all.
Before long they were done with their lunch and escorted into their rooms and even though he didn't have to Levi chose to fall asleep, if that sage wanted them dead he could do it anytime so there is no use worrying about it, Acnologia was by his side on the bed, he refused a room of his own.
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AN: I took inspiration for the character Sage from lord fifth of I shall seal the heavens, it's just a little bit of extra information, you don't need to have real that novel before, but those who did will understand the character special “Habits”.
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